Demonstrators urge ICRC to act on Armenian POWs

PanARMENIAN.Net - A protest is taking place outside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Yerevan, where participants are raising concerns about the life of Ruben Vardanyan and the protection of Armenian prisoners of war. Human rights defenders, public figures, and citizens are participating in the demonstration.

“We know that the authoritarian leadership has ensured that the Red Cross was not present in Stepanakert. But this should not be accepted as a given. The ICRC is an international organization, and history has shown that no other body can perform its role,” stated Larisa Alaverdyan, head of the Against Legal Arbitrariness NGO, as reported by Panorama.am .

She emphasized that the protest is taking place amid unprecedented developments in Azerbaijan.

“Not only are specific individuals being prosecuted, but international law itself is being put on trial. The fundamental norms of international humanitarian law are not just being violated—Azerbaijan is outright opposing international law as a whole. We are here today because Armenia’s current government is not taking proper steps, and its statements effectively serve the genocidal policies of Turkey and Azerbaijan against Armenians,” Alaverdyan declared.

Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, stressing that it continues to draw international attention to the issue of Armenian prisoners, hostages, and detainees held in Azerbaijan. The ministry also condemned the staged trials, marked by severe legal violations and clear signs of torture.

Human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan revealed that recent photographs of Ruben Vardanyan, the former State Minister of Artsakh, show visible injuries on his body. Vardanyan has been on a hunger strike for a week.

During his last court hearing, his condition deteriorated significantly, and photos taken during the session showed injuries on his face. Despite this, the court forced him to remain present. His international legal team has detailed his worsening health condition, warning that his life is in serious danger.